Collapsible furnishings



Jan. 12, 1932. w. c. FAiN COLLAPSIBLE FURNISHINGS Filed Oct. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet` l damn,

w. c. FAIN 1,841,282

COLLAPSIBLE FURNISHINGS Filed Oc-t. 20, 1928 o' Sheets-Sheet 2 W. C. FAlN COLLAPSIBLE FURISHINGS Filed Oct. 20, 1928 -/fJa/f .y/ ,al

Jan. ll2, 1932.

Patented Jan. l2,-.1932

WALTER c. minor NoRnoLmvIRGINIA, AssIGNoRuro WAiNsLo MANUFACTURING Y CORPORATION, oRNoRFoLx, VIRGINIA f Y Y coLLAPsiBLii IfuRNI'sinnersI- 'Application sied oetoherrvaogiszs; semina.' 313,817. Y

The present invention yrelates to householdv furnishing of` they folding type which is capable of assuming a normal operative posi? tion in the room during use and of collapsing 5 and folding away into a restricted compact area', such as against a. wall, whenindisuse, andhasparticular reference to foldingfsets of this general character comprising, forl 'exl aniple,a table and'associatedjbenches. *i

In modern apartments and small homes conservation of space has become a, vital necessity, there being a growing` tendencyjto use one room for a number of differentV purposes. Thus, the living room has been called 15 lupon to'perform the duties ,of-a" dining room and, in some instances, to serve as a bedroom as well. Vln the interests of this forcedspace conservation, various types of fovlding,`col

lapsing and disappearing furniture have had 50 their conception and development. .lAJnong the most important types of such furniture is the so-called breakfastl set,normally comprising va table and twoassociated benches, 'so' constructed and assembled as to occupyahorizontal position extending into al room when inuse, and capable in disuseof being `folded 'dat against a wall orgotlier .supporting sur-.p

yface and therebyLinsofaras space and conn' spicuousness yare concerned, effectively re- "0 mov-ing the set from theroom in which it is used. f lVhile performing almost useful function,"prior breakfast sets .have not proveiiato Y Y beentirelysuccessful ina practical way and M severalwellfknown defects anddisadvantages have become apparent'tojboth manufacturer and user.'Y @ne ofthe chief disadvantages yis the difficulty O foldmg and :extendmg the Figl` iS awhorizontal section alOIlg-line 6%6 .of'Figl 3 with' the parts "completely y, n

; Fig, 7 isla/partial front elevation on ,an` v a ssembled sets from the inoperative position to Ythe' position occupied during useand vice'- *0 versa. To be entirely successfuhthe "setsV Y must lend themselves to extensionaiid ,fold- 5 Vthat thesetsbe constructed andassembled so t "as to render'therfoidigami extendig'op'- er'ationsy orderly, simple and fool-proof, and

this has been lacking toanoticeable vldegree in previous furniture of this type.V

which the' disadvantages @referred to yare eliminated. The invention contemplates the the parts thereof so constructed and asseni- A vgeneral object -of the presentinventiony i is toprovidean improved breakfast-.senin Vbled as to V'p'ermit'theextendingggand folding operationsto v,bev accomplished with a 1 minimum'amount of physical" effort, and

whichin' additionmay be quickly andsemiautomatically -inanipulated A further fob'ect'- is to provide La folding'V l breakfast setwhich'is simple `in construction,

relatively inexpensive to manufacture and y'durableand serviceablein usel These and other willbe apparent lfrom the following detailed description when read in connection with the c i' accompanying.,drawings, and will be pointed out "inthe 'appendedclaims Y J In'v the drawings:r

normal operative positoin; Fig. 2is' a side Vview thereof;

*"Figg is a front eleva-tion with the-parts` -VVV -r 'i Y in a pajrtlyf folded condition folded; v.

enlargedjscale; I

ig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe .iiiven-kk tionthe table and benches occupyingthe fFigQi is a side'view of the partsshown I l, Fig. Stand looking from left to right; f `f Y l features of the invention .p

FigS is a vsidevievv of theparts v Fig.' sie@ `(ia-.siii .of therapie niet; g Ij Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 3; and 's i s Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-'11 of Fig. 3.

Y Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates a support adapted to be rigidly and permanently attachedto any convenient vertical stationary lsupport such as a wall 11. rThe support is generally rectangular in shape and may be of solid formation or, as illustrated, in the Ytorm of a. frame having horizontal top and bottom rails V12 and13 and vertical side members 111.

Each side member is provided with a relatively thick janib l5, the upper face of which lies in a plane substantially flush with the upper edgeA of the top of the frame-for a purpose hereinafter described.

A table 16 is pivotally mounted upon the upper rail 12of the support by means of hinges 17, the connection between the table .and the supportbeing sucli tliatthe former may be moved into a vertical plane in aline` ment With the plane of thefsupport and in substantial'iiat contact. with the wall 11, as

illustrated in Figs. 3 and {1,'0'1 may bemoved about its pivot. into a horizontal plane as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The-particular form and sliape'of the table is not important and maybe varied to conform with v the tastes'of the user-andthe needs of. a particularl installation. 'When occupying Aa horizontal or operative position, the table rests at its inner end on and is thereforersupported by the upper faces of thejambs 15,

the outer portion of the table receiving its support from a leg 18 hinged to the bottom of the table as at 19, the hinge being arranged to permit the leg folding against the bottom of the table and .in close proximity thereto. Each side of the table leg is cut awayas at 20 to permit compact folding of associated parts in the manner hereinafter described; .The leg Y 18 isconne'cted to the support 10 by a rigid rod 2l,the latter being pivotedV at 22 to the top rail" of the support, and at 23 to the inner side of the leg.V This rigid connection between the leg and the support serves to-maintain'suoh arts in' 'arallelism at all times irres ective ofwliether the legis in a.verticalcompletely collapsed position, iii an active supporting positiom 'or in intermediate positions.. B

sueliaA connection, .the leg is forcedto assume and maintain aposition at rightsangle's to. the table. when the' latter is4 extended',

therebyinsurin'g a safe andreliable supper-tf Tlierod connection also Vserves to automatical-V ly-fold Yand unfold Lthe leg whenthe'table Yis moved from one position to another, no assist- Y. 66 nce from the operator 'being required' t0 move or kposition the leg. To avoid inter.-

ference between the `table leg and the rod 21 when thev former moved into folded posi-A tion, the inner surfaceof the leg is provided switli a groove 2li for receivingY the rod. It

will kbe noted rthat the adjacent Yend of the groove extends beyond the pivotal connec-V 'n ing legs 27 and a carrying member 28. The

carryingmember is provided along one edge `with" brackets 29 having alined openings 30 formed therein for lloosely receiving a vertical rodr31l rigidly mounted in corresponding brackets 32 attached to the jamb 15. `The carrying member isthus capable of a pivotal movement in a horizontal plane around the rod 31 and a vertical sliding movement axial- .ly along the rod. VThe upper `edge of the rod projects beyond the top 4bracket 32 and the'V tiptliereof is rounded as at 33.

The'seat 26 is hinged to the upperedge of i the/carrier member at 34', the hinges being `arranged to permit the seat tor assume an inoperative 'position in the same vertical plane and in alineinent with the carrier mem- V'ber,-as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and to occupy an active or operative position at right angles to the carrier member and in a horizontal 'plane' adjacent the table as illustrated in Figs. 1 and2. At a point along its inner edge and spacedfrom the bottom end, the seat member is provided withv a bracket 35 having a shallow socket 36 (see Fig. 7 adapted to beV brought into registry with the rod 31V when the seat member and carrier are vertically alined. VJ hen the upper end vof Vthe rod enters the socket 36, the lseat inemberv and carrier will be looked in alined relation, and may then be swung as a unit about therod as a pivot. To engage and disengage the rod from the socket for the purpose'ofv lockingor releasing the seat member, the seat member and carrierv are lowered or lifted vertically to shift the parts between the solid" and dotted positions indicated in Fig. 7.; Sulcient vertical movement between lau llo

the seatmember and carrier and the rod mustv be permitted to allow clearance between the end of'tlierod and the socket, butit is pref-V erableftozrestrict such movement in such a mannerV that `the. upperbracket 35 will never strike', the table.,A To this end, an additional stationary bracket37 is' mounted on the jamb above the `Vupperbracket 29 of the carrier Vmember, such brackets being arranged tocontact shortly .after the socket in the bracket i Y35 is clear from the upper end of the rod.

VVlii-le theadditional bracket 37 may'beflo'- catedfat other places alongthe rod, such as abovethe lower bracket of the carrier member, lits location at the pointJillustrated is f" desirable because italso serves to reinforce the central portion of the rod andprevents flexing and bending thereof at an otherwise unsupported portion. l

The seat member 26-is` supported inwits active position bylegs Q'Twhin'ged to the bot-KV tom of the seat at38- in suche-manner' as to be.` foldedl the `seat and carriermember respectively When vsuch parts are in vertical alinement. The legs are vrigidly connested by means of a rod 39,Wl1ichmaintains them constant parallelism. The ends lof the connecting rod arepivoted on a stud l0 upon a bracket 41 attached to the rearface of each leg. lThe legs move in unison from folded to lunfolded position vWhen theseat member is raised or lowered, such movement ofthe-'legs being fostered automatically-in each instance by gravity; A I A, it is important to "note vthat in use the seat is supported wholly and alone byrthe legs.l The carrier member does not Contact With theA floor and neverl functions 'as 'an vactive support lfor 'the seat. The hinge connection Y between the' seat and the Acarrier member bears no portion offthe vveight- Wheni the seat is'used. The principal function of the carrier member is to -hingethebench unit to. the'main support so that'the horizentalfolds' ing of the parts may .be accomplished,a'n`d in addition, it serves as acover vorfthe'loiver portion ofthe bench unit vvhenithel'atter is folded flatagainst the Wall. .1. In disuse, `the setV isy folded against-'.the. Wall or other surface i to l'Which 1theym'ain support is attached, -'the Vparts assuming `the position indicated in Fig. G'an'd in Adotted linesin lFig'. l. rIhetable 16 is'flat,gagains-tr the Wall andin alinementwiththe support l0, 15h-eleg oi the table being 'folded id against the -bottom thereofgjThefbench units; hav thev seat and"carr-ierr inl alinement andas effective continuations of" each other, are folded' over tthe table, the jlegs of'` the-"seats fitting Within the cutout portions 2010i the table lieg.` r`lhe space occupied by the folded set corresponds generally to the 'combinedxthickness oftheftableQthe legs, a'ndlthe seat.Y

Vrel ation.. therewith.

To eliminate danger of accidental or uninffV tentional unfolding ofc-the set, itis preferable Y to providev suitable fcatchesfor' 'latche's'efor holding the parts inolded position. `lothis end springV clipforffastenerY 42 is vattached Y to the Wall in position to vreleasablgv'engage thetable and retain the ,latterl vertical folded c position". f Adjacentsurfacesof ithe table and seats rare provided with complimentary parts 43. and doa separab'lelfasl 'tener 45, suchlas ian' elbowdatch, to lockl` the bench }unitsagainst the tablevandfinV Jfolded Althoughthe 'coinponentfparts 'set are intimately associated, 'itvvilfl -b'e noted that; each un it is capable ofindividua'l. manipula;

`seatfinveiticalda' -V c o l L :fin combination. a'supportfadapted tobe dependently of the-'others and each may be brought'into its-horizontal operative positionfivhile the others remain latagainstthe Wall. Aside from lthis flexibility iii-use, .it` Willjalso be appreciated-that the individual manipulation "of the l:single yunitsv demands a 'minimum 'amountfofeoru less than onethirdV ofV the force .being required as 'would be the casevvere lthe unit-s connected "forsiv multaneous operation.

'l-laving vthus described the l claim yas new and desire to secure by LettersA Patent of the United States is: l. In combination," a. support adapted yto beA attached to a Wall or similar surface, a

table hinged to said support so as to be cap-V invention, what able of movement to a vertical position inv 1 into` afverticalposition in alinement there-l with and into a horizontal position at right angles thereto, means independent of thecarier member Jfor ksuppciting the 4seatwvhenin'jy horizontal position," and means for,r 4locking theV seat andfcariier member in alined position, the saidnlocliing means being engaged end disengaged byy the vertical movement of the carrier member. n j 2., lin combination, aV attached tof. a vvall or lsimilar surface, a table hingedft'o said 'support' so as to be capableofV movement to' a vertical. position` in lalinement thereniithgand into horizontal positional;k righ angles tothe support, meansto support the 'table in horizontal position, a lbench unitlon,each.side'osaic table, each of `said unit'sfcom"` n 'sing'. acairier member, vertical secured tothe side ofsaid support, bracksupport adapted to be -v ets/secure'dto'theedgeofthe carriermember' therewithfand aliorizon'tal position' atright f angles tliletm-oldab'le legs pivoteld-tothe seati'or supporting the latter inl horizontal position independent of' the cerrier'member, bracket securedto the seat lhaving af socket in alincmentuit-h the rod :when tlie'table and Carrier"` member'are in vert-ical positions,;the said socket bei vadapted to roceivepthe upper endfo said o and. retainthe carriervand 'nement'.

at acliedpto vivall'or similar vertical surface,

t a table, fa hinge .connection-beto@ n toe, inner z end offtliegtablekgand theftopl said Asupport iso Y to permit the'table to swingfintoa vertical position against the wall and in alinement with the support andin a horizontal position at Ariglrt angles to said support, means independent of the hinges for supporting the hingedend of the table when theV latter occupies a horizontal position, a foldable leg for Y supporting` the outer end of the table in horizontal position, a bench unit mountedon said support at each side of said table,rthe said bench units comprising a carrier member hinged to said support by a vertical rod, the said carrier member being slidable verticali. along said rod, a seat hinged to the car 1ier member to swing into a vertical position alincd therewith and into a horizontal position at right angles thereto, legs hinged upon c isoei a-c 'c t 1,- asaunito e tra* unt 1 ng la tolto nold t v rfhe table when the latter is'in vertical alineinent Vwith its support. Y f

41 lln coinbinatioma support adapted to be attached to aA wall or similar vertical surface, a table, hinge conne'ctionsbetween the inner end of the table and said support to permit the table to swing` into a vertical position against the wall and in alinement Vwith the support and in a horizontal position atlright angles to said support, means independent of thehinges forA supporting the hinged end of the table when the latter occupies' a horizontal position, a foldable leg for supporting the outer end of the table in horizontal position, means for automaticallyfoldingV and unfolding the leg when the table is moved from'its horizontal to verticalpositions, a bench unit mounted on said support at each side of said tabl-e, the said bench units comprising a. carposition alined therewith and into a horizonj tan'eously folding and unfolding the rlegs of Teach seat in unison vwhen `the seat is Ymoved tal position at right angles thereto, legs hingedupon the bottom of the Vseat members landadapted to be folded thereagai'nst,'the said leg members `extending below the carrier member into contact with'thefloor when the-y seat is in horizontal position and thereby remove the weight of the seat from the carrier member andthe support, Ymeans for simulfrom Yhorizontal to' vertical positions and vice versa, andaibraclret the bottom of the seat having a; socket adapted to engage the upper;

end ofthe vertical rod to lock the seat and carrier member in vertical alined positions, the bench units being adapted to fold as a unit over the table when the latter is in vertical alinement with its support.

f 5. InY combination, a vertical support, a

table, hinge means connecting thetable and the support wherebyY the table may be folded into an inoperative position in substantial alignment Ywith said support and into an operative position in a horizontal -plane at right angles to said supp0rt,means for supporting the table in operative position, a bench unit mounted on said support, the said unit comprising' a carrierv member, a seat member, hinge means connecting said seat member endwise tok said carrier member whereby said' seat member may assume an inoperative position in Vertical alignment with the carrier member and an operative position at right angles to the carrier member, and a leg hinged to the bottom of the seat member, said leg extending below the carriermember and adapted to rest on thel floor when the seat member occupies a horizontal position, said leg being hinged to said seat member at a Ypoint spacedfromfthe hinge point of said seat memberY by a distance at least as great as the difference. in length between said carrier member and said leg, means pivotally connecting said carrier member to said support whereby said carrier member may swing ina horizontal plane and the seatrmember, carrier memberand leg may as a unit vfold over and overliethe table when the-latter is in alignmentfwith the support.A

table may be moved vertically into an inoperative position in substantial vertical alignment with saidrsupport and against the wall and into an operative position in a horizon-. tal plane at right angles to said support, means for supportingfthe table in operative position, a bench Vunit-mounted on said support onY each side ofthe table, each of said units comprising a carriermember, a seat member, hinge Vmeans connecting said seat member endwise to said carrier member rvi'hereby said seat memberV may assume an inleg members being hinged to said seat mem-` bers at points-spaced from the hinge points of said seat'membersA by distances at least` as great' as the difference in lengthbetween said lil() .melissa carrier members and said legs, and means for causing the legs of each seat member to move' in unison fromk folded to unfolded positions, means pivotally-connectmg said carrier member4 to said support' whereby said carrierV member may `swing' in a horizontall plane and Y each seat. member, carrier member andflegs may fold as a unit and overli'e the table when the latter is in alignment with 4the support.` A

7. In combination, aV vertical support adapted to be attached to a wall or similar surface, a table, hingemeans connecting thek inner' end of the table and the top of the support whereby the table may be moved ,ver`

tically into an inoperative position against the wall in substantial alignment with said support and extended into an operative position in a horizontal plane at right angles to said support, means` tosupport `the table in operative position, a bench unit mounted on i saidsupport on each side of said table, each ofsaid units Comprising a carrier memberya seat member, vhinge means connecting'A said seat member endwise to said carrier member whereby the scat member may move into aninoperative position in substantial vertical alignment with the carrier member and into an operative position at rightangles to the' carrier member, means independent of the carrier member for supporting the seat in its.

surface, a table, hinge-means connecting the inner end of the table and the top of the support whereby the table may be moved into a vertical position inv alignment with the support and substantially in contact with the wall, means independent of said hinges for supporting the en d of the table adjacent to the vertical support when the table occupies a horizontal position, .aleg for supporting the opposite end of the table, hinge means connecting said leg to the bottom of said table wherebythe leg may be folded against said bottom, a bench unit mounted on said support on each side'of the table, each benchV unit comprising a carrier member, a seat member and seat supporting legs, means connecting the seat member to the carriermember whereby such members may be arranged in vertical alignment, means connecting the legs to the seat member whereby the legs may be folded against the bottom of the seat member when the latter is in alignment'withthe carrier member, said leg members being hinged to said seat :member at pomtsspaced distances Vleast as gr'eatjas the y,difference lengt i As d legs seat a i fromj-the hingerpoint of said seat member v between. Said icarierlriiembr and: f aesenneltneihe carrier 1min-y bere-to, tIiQnliPPOItiwhrbrthe Carrier mm; s :ber meyifsvllglebout e vertical axis; and. the

M member mayswing inxahorif ,sa-limit and fold over the table the atter ispositionedagainst the wall.y

g meansconnectingsaidtable at one end-to saidl support whereby the? table mayfswing .to` a f Y;vertied".inoperative position and to Qa .horizontabfoperative position, a legpivotally mounted adj acent the; other end of said table onftli'eflovverside thereof, bench units mounted on said support on either side thereof, said `bench units comprising carriers, seats, hinge means connectingsaid seats endwise tosaid carriers whereby said seats may swing to a vertical inoperative position and to a horizontal yoperative position, legs pivotallymounted adjacent the outer ends of said seats and on the lower lsides thereof, hinge means connecting said carriers to saidpsupport whereby said carriers and lseats may swing about vertical pivots and be folded asunits 4 to overlie said table` and support and whereby in folded positionsaid seats are spaced from said table by a distance substantially 'equal `to the thickness of said legs, all parts vof the i legs on the vtable and on each seat whichlie in the same horizontal plane when the seatsk and y table are swung to vertical positions being spacedl by dierent horizontal distances from the vaxes of the pivots of saidk carriers, k-

whereby said legs on the table and on the seats may lie in the same vertical plane when the i table and seats are in vertical position and the carriers andgseats are swung tok position to overlie they table and support. n

l0, In combination, la support, aftable,

hinge means connecting said table at oneend j to said support whereby said table'may swing to a vertical inoperative position in valign@ l ment with said support and to a'horizontal y y operative position, aleg pivotally mounted adjacent the other :end of said table on the lower side thereof, bench units mounted on to Vsaid support on either side thereof,l saidy bench units comprising carriers, seats, hinge means connecting said seats endwise to said carriers whereby said -seats may swing toV vertical inoperative posltions 1n alignment with said carriers and to horizontal operative positions, inner and outerlegs pivoted to said seats and on the lowersides thereof,

hinge means connectingl said carriersto said"y supports whereby said carriers and seats may swing about vertical pivots and may be fold'edl` as units to overlie said support anddtabley and whereby in folded position said seats and carriers are spaced from said support and table by a distance substantially equal to thethickness of said legs, all parts ofthe legs ony thevtableand on'eacli seat which lie in the samehorizontal plane when the lseats f amily table Vai'e swung to vertical positions `whereby all of said legs may lie in the same being spaced bydierent horizontal distances 'from the axes ofthe pivots of said'carries,

whereby said legs on the table and on the seats will beV completely in alignment with one another in a horizontal direction per- Y pendicular to the face of the support when the carriers'are swung to overlie the support,

' vertical plane.

` In testimony whereof., I have hereunto set my signature. v u

' WALTER'C. FAIN. 

